The White Towel Season Preview: Ed Willes looks at who’s best, East and West

Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning checks Johnny Oduya of the Chicago Blackhawks during Game 6 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final at the United Center. The Lightning come in with a few questions, while the Blackhawks have just one: can they repeat as NHL champs?Photo by
Bill Smith

ATLANTIC DIVISION

1. Tampa Bay Lightning *

Outlook: The most talented team in the East; the uncertain contractual situation of Steven Stamkos is about the only concern.

Burning question: Are they ready to take the next step? This is still a young team and their inexperience betrayed them in the Cup final against Chicago.

2. Montreal Canadiens *

Outlook: A quality team, they’re just not in the Lightning’s class. It would help if Alex Galchenyuk emerged as an impact player this season. As for Zack Kassian, sigh.

Burning question: They have the goalie in Carey Price and the stud defenceman in P.K. Subban. But do they have the depth to hang with the Bolts?

3. Ottawa Senators *

Outlook: Made a magical run to the playoffs last season under the Hamburglar, goalie Andrew Hammond, but they’ve quietly put together a quality lineup and Erik Karlsson is a game-changer on the back end.

Burning question: Was last year’s stretch drive a mirage or did it signal the emergence of a good, young team?

4. Florida Panthers

Outlook: They’ve been assembling premium young players for years. Aaron Ekblad is a future Norris Trophy winner and Jonathan Huberdeau and Alexander Barkov form an imposing one-two punch at centre. Plus, they have Jaromir Jagr, and that’s always fun.

Burning question: Is this the year it starts to come together for the Panthers?

5. Detroit Red Wings

Outlook: We’re about to find out if the Wings were a Mike Babcock creation or a decent team in their own right. There are good young players all over the lineup but are they good enough to drag the Wings into the playoffs yet again?

Outlook: You can’t say the Sabres won’t be interesting. The new faces include Evander Kane, Ryan O’Reilly, blue-chip rookie Jack Eichel and head coach Dan Bylsma.

Burning question: Teams usually don’t transform themselves in the space of a year. Can the Sabres be the exception?

7. Boston Bruins

Outlook: In a rebuilding mode and that’s putting it mildly. Seven regulars are gone from last year’s team, including Milan Lucic and Dougie Hamilton.

Burning question: They’ll be bad. The only question is how bad?

8. Toronto Maple Leafs

Outlook: See the Bruins. The difference is the Leafs are lacking the proven veterans to keep their team on the rails. Mike Babcock might be the best coach in hockey but he isn’t Houdini.

Burning question: Can the Leafs win the Auston Matthews sweepstakes?

METROPOLITAN DIVISION

1. Pittsburgh Penguins *

Outlook: Have added Mr. Personality, Phil Kessel, to a stacked lineup so scoring goals won’t be a problem. The issue is the young defence and, as always, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

Burning question: It will be asked in the playoffs. This is a great regular-season team.

2. New York Islanders*

Outlook: Announced themselves last season and look ready to take another step. John Tavares is a Hart Trophy candidate and the Isles are loaded down the middle.

Burning question: They’re good but are they ready to compete with the best teams in the East?

3. Washington Capitals*

Outlook: Interesting team. They remade themselves under Barry Trotz last season but five regulars are gone and Justin Williams and T.J. Oshie step into the lineup.

Burning question: Same as it ever was. Can Alex Ovechkin lead this team anywhere?

4. Columbus Blue Jackets*

Outlook: Looked poised for great things last season, then saw their lineup decimated by injuries. Pieces are still in place and they’ve added emerging star Brandon Saad.

Burning question: Was last year an aberration?

5. New York Rangers *

Outlook: The President’s Trophy winners lost some key pieces, including Marty St. Louis, Carl Hagelin and goalie Cam Talbot. They still have Henrik Lundqvist, but will they score enough?

Burning question: Has the window closed on Alain Vigneault’s team?

6. Philadelphia Flyers

Outlook: Had the look of a team on the rise a couple of years ago but it hasn’t happened. Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek are elite scorers but the supporting cast hasn’t developed around them.

Burning question: Can the Flyers get back to where they were?

7. Carolina Hurricanes

Outlook: Well, they got out from under the Alexander Semin travesty, rookie defenceman Noah Hanifin is a future star and Eddie Lack will keep everyone entertained. The ‘Canes just aren’t that good.

Burning question: Do they take it down to the studs or try to re-sign Eric Staal and goalie Cam Ward?

8. New Jersey Devils

Outlook: Poor Cory Schneider. What did he do to deserve this mess?

Burning question: Can they out-stink the Leafs and finish last overall?

WESTERN CONFERENCE

CENTRAL DIVISION

1. Chicago Blackhawks*

Outlook: It’s almost irrelevant where the Blackhawks finish in the regular season. You know they’ll make noise in the playoffs. They’ve lost Saad and Patrick Kane’s legal issues are a concern. But the core is still there.

Burning question: Only one: Can they repeat as Stanley Cup champs?

2. Minnesota Wild*

Outlook: Caught fire when they acquired goalie Devan Dubnyk last season but this is a solid team. The centrepieces are Ryan Suter and Zach Parise but there is depth and look for a breakout season from Charlie Coyle.

Burning question: Are the Wild truly an elite team?

3. St. Louis Blues*

Outlook: Look great on paper but the whole never seems to equal the sum of the parts in St. Louis. There’s also a goaltending issue which hasn’t been addressed since Glenn Hall retired.

Burning question: Can the Blues ever put it together in the playoffs?

4. Winnipeg Jets*

Outlook: They have the makings of a strong team on the frozen tundra and they’ve added impact rookie Nik Ehlers, and Alex Burmistrov has returned from Russia.

Burning question: Can the goaltending tandem of Ondrej Pavelec and Michael Hutchinson deliver the goods?

5. Nashville Predators*

Outlook: Any team that starts with Pekka Rinne in goal and Shea Weber, Roman Josi and Seth Jones on defence can’t be that bad. Will the Preds get enough scoring?

Burning question: Head coach Peter Laviolette tends to have a have a limited shelf life. Can he coax another playoff spot out of this team?

6. Dallas Stars

Outlook: Some high-profile additions with Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya but questions in goal and the blueline.

Burning question: Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn are exciting young players but can they lead this team to the playoffs?

7. Colorado Avalanche

Outlook: Here’s the thing about the Central, the NHL’s toughest division. The Avs could finish anywhere from third to last and nothing would surprise you. This is a talented team that still has issues on its back end.

Burning question: Is Patrick Roy a legitimate coach or a sideshow?

PACIFIC DIVISION

1. Anaheim Ducks*

Outlook: Familiar names plus the Ducks got faster with Carl Hagelin coming over from the Rangers. Kevin Bieska improves the quotability of the locker room.

Burning question: Like the NHL’s other elite teams, there’s only one: Can the Ducks win the Stanley Cup?

2. Los Angeles Kings*

Outlook: Last year’s craziness is behind them and they’ve added Lucic. This is still a quality team and now they have something to prove.

Burning question: Do the Kings return to the upper echelon of the NHL?

3. Calgary Flames*

Outlook: Hard to know with young teams but the Flames have the deepest blueline in the West and young guns Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau and Sam Bennett should take another step.

Burning question: Bob Hartley has expectations this season. We’ll see how the Flames’ coach handles them.

4. Vancouver Canucks

Outlook: You know this team. The problem is the conference. It’s possible the Canucks improve over last season and they still miss the playoffs.

Burning question: Can the goaltending with Ryan Miller and Jacob Markstrom hold up over 82 games?

5. San Jose Sharks

Outlook: This team is showing its age in a young man’s game. Goalie Marty Jones was a shrewd pickup but he won’t be enough.

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